Citronella Production

I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CROP

Citronella (Cymbopogon confertiflorus), A cogon-grass look-alike which

has various industrial uses because of its oil, can be grown here in our
country. The oil extracted from citronella is highly valued because it is
used in perfumes, mosquito repellants, soaps, spray, disinfectants, paints
and polish.

At present, we still import citronella oil for industrial consumption.

On the average, this is $1.5 million yearly.

In the Philippines, citronella production is still in the infant stage.

There are only about 20 hectares planted to it in Leyte. Commercial
production is feasible in 1,000 has in the towns of Babatngon, Biliran,
Javier and Villaba also in Leyte.

The major buyers of citronella oil are the manufacturer if perfumes,

laundry and toilet soaps, cigarettes and other allied items. U.S.A. is the
world's largest market of citronella oil.

Citronella oil is an indispensable ingredient in the manufacture of soap,

perfumes and other industrial products. Our country is importing
citronella grass in large quantities although the grass from which this oil is
derived can be grown profitably under Philippine conditions. Citronella
grass is found to be indigenous in the region. It is planted in backyard
scale and used for bathing and other medicinal purposes only.

The recent economic crisis led to the realization that cultivating the
crop locally would be more advantageous than importing the oil. The
country could save a lot in foreign exchange by promoting the commercial
planting of citronella grass.

In 1980’s, the government urged the private sector to participate in the

program. Himmel Industries, Inc., a private corporation responded
favorably to this call by the government. The Ministry of Agriculture and
Food (MAF) and Himmel Industries, Inc. (HII) entered into agreement over
the program of citronella production, processing and marketing. But
because of changing administration in the government, the program was
gone.

Recently, Honorable Luis R. Villafuerte introduced the House

Resolution No. 734 in which pilot areas for the establishment of
experiment stations will be identified to propagate plants with potential
essential oil extracts and one of these is citronella grass. The Committee
on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives will be conducting
hearings to determine appropriate legislative measures that may be
enacted to ensure that development of essential oils industry in the
Philippines shall be supported and aided both as an import-substitution
and export-oriented industry.

One of the success stories in the implementation of Small Enterprise

Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) in Region VIII is the citronella
extraction project in Barangay Bato, Biliran, Biliran. The citronella oil
extraction plant is operated by the Biliran Essential Oil Manufacturing
Philippines (BEOMP) with office at Ormoc City owned by Mr. Jesus F.
Doyon, Sr.

The firm started operation in 2004. The adoptor initially uses the crude
design of the citronella oil extraction equipment developed by Engr. Jesus
Villamil, who became Mr. Doyon’s consultant. Realizing the potential of the
citronella oil industry, the company continuously seek the assistance of
DOST and other agencies for improvement of the process and expansion of
the essential oil venture. Latest addition to the innovativeness of the owner
is the adoption of new citronella oil extractor design which can use both
LPG and firewood as fuel, and under vacuum condition through the
support of DOST. This was conceived because of the desire of the
proprietor to improve citronella oil quality for the future needs of buyers
who would demand better quality oil. Although ambitious, the proponent
was looking in advance for expansion of its local market share and
possible foreign market.

The firm’s production and sales from citronella oil almost doubled
compared to its past levels. Increase of production ranges from 80-100%
from its original level in 2004. Gross sales in 2007 approximately reached
PhP780,000 which is about 84% increase from 2004 recorded sales (Based
on DOST Pre-Implementation Sheet data).

The intervention of the DOST was matched up by the proponent’s

increased investment with the acquisition of additional equipment, facility
improvement, and farm implements reaching about PhP 3.5 M. In an
industry level, since BEOM is the only producer in the Region, the
investment is a major contribution. The expansion of the plantation from
the existing 15-hectare active plantation to another 20 hectares was a big
leap to reactivating the 50 hectares used by the earlier companies.

The waste grass was not a problem for the company since it is
biodegradable and can be used as organic fertilizer for the plantation and
landfill for the remaining uncultivated areas. The waste water was used as
spray for the plants to repel insects and pests.
II. CROP VARIETIES

Citronella belongs to Family Graminae. It is an essential source of

citronella oil and is predominantly grown in Java and Ceylon. There are
two cultivated types – Mahapengeri and Lenabatu. These two types
derived from wild “mana” grass. Cymbopogon coonfertiflorus (Stapf),
which is the parent material of all commercially, cultivated citronella
grass.

A. Varieties:

1. Lenabatu (Ceylon type) – Cymbopogon nardus (L) Rendle

Adropogon nardus Ceylon de Jong narrow-leafed, hardier and
long-lived. It is reported to contain only 15 – 65% of total acetyl
sable expressed as geranial.

2. Mahapengari (Java type) – Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt

(Adropogon nardus Java de Jong) broad leafed, requires good soil
and much care in growing and cultivating. This variety contains
around 85% “total acetyl sable expressed as geranial.

B. Economic Importance

VARIETY USES

Mahapengari Type - Used as starting materials for the

preparation of industrially important
perfumery compounds derived from
“geranial” citronella.

Lenabatu Type - Used as deodorant for mosquito repellant.

Scent for soaps, sprays, disinfectants,
paints and polish.

III. CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT

1. Soil - a suitable area for citronella plantation could be a

young field, virgin or regenerated (green-fertilized)
soils. The grass thrives in any type of soil provided
they are sufficiently fertile. However, a deep sandy
soil offers the natural recondition for good quality
oil. Although the growth of the plants on sand is
meager and equally not large, the proportion of oil
in relation to weight of leaves is more favorable.
2. Climate - a humid climate with regular rainfalls would
probably offer the most favorable condition for good
yield and quality of oil. It likewise guarantees
longevity of plantings.

3. Elevation - grows in low and high altitude up to 2,000 ft. and

more, but thrives best from 600 to 700 ft. altitude.

4. Plant Materials - Use tillers of citronella grass obtained by dividing

old clumps. Each clump could yield about ten
sturdy divisions.
5. Plant Materials Requirements - Place about two sturdy
divisions or tillers to each hole.

6. Distance of Planting- Plant at a distance of 3 x 3 ft. But in poorer

soil the interval may be less. A 2x2 interval is
sufficient in the planting period intended to last for
only a short time

7. Planting Time - Citronella requires fairly large amounts of

moisture for proper establishment. Planting should
be during the rainy season.

8. Land Preparation and Planting - If possible prepare the field

thoroughly. However, under coconut areas, and in
some other cases, just underbrush the area, dig
hole and insert the plant materials vertically. Bury
the tillers fairly deep, otherwise the clumps will
easily work themselves out of the ground.

9. Cultivation and Weeding - Hill-up (loosen the soil) and weed to

improve the yield and for proper maintenance of
the plantation.

However, it is advisable to practice hilling-up

right after every harvest to hasten the recovery and
growth of the plants.

10. Fertilization - The use of chemical fertilizers increases the

grass yield, however, higher yield of oil is obtained
on fresh soil as compared to chemically fertilized
soil. Green fertilization makes the soil loose and
has a favorable influence upon the oil content of
the citronella. Apply urea or 16-20-0 at 2-3
bags/ha. either basal or as side dressing.
 11. Pest and Diseases - In their natural habitat these plants are not
prone to pests or disease. Also this plant is largely free from pest and
diseases because of aromatic smell.

VI. HARVESTING

1. Time of Harvest - The usual practice is to harvest 9 months after

planting. However, under Leyte condition, harvest
eight months after planting. Three to four harvests
could be done a year under favorable conditions.
The rainy season harvest is usually larger than the
dry season harvest.

2. Proper Time for Cutting - It is very important to choose the most

appropriate time of harvesting the grass. A too
short growing period decreases the productivity of
the plants to such extent that a field can perish
within a short time. Along growing period permits
the plant to develop its full root system, which is
important for longer life span. However, definite
cutting period cannot always be indicated in a
climate where the rainy and dry seasons are quite
irregular. Proper timing for cutting is advisable in
order to prevent the grass from flowering. The best
time for cutting seems to be when the stem has six
adult leaves with the seventh leaf in rolled up
position.

3. Proper way of Cutting - Cut the leaves about 6-8 inches above
ground level. Too low cutting results to the
inclusion of many nearly oil-free parts of the blades
which, when distilled, diminish oil yield. After the
grass is cut, remove the old, dry leaves from the
fresh leaves before the leaf bundles are hauled
prior to processing.

4. Life Span of Citronella in the Field - Short intervals between

growing periods of ratoons shorten the life span of
citronella in the field. The plantation will be
productive for only slightly more than two years.
However, in fertile soils where greater care is taken
during the growing period the plantation may last
from four to five years.

Less productive fields should be

discontinued because of citronella is rather a soil
exhausting crop and prolonged growth of the grass
 in it may be detrimental to the soil, the plants, the
yield and quality of oil.

5. Yield of Oil – It is difficult to express the yield of oil on a per hectare

basis in definite figures because it depends on so
many factors: climate, fertility of the soil, age of
plantation and method of distillation.

The average yield of oil is about 0.7%. It

fluctuates from 0.5% in the rainy season to 1.2%
during the dry season. The estimated yield of grass
range from 12 – 35 metric ton/ha. with 0.7%
average yield of oil or 84 –247 kg. of oil per hectare.

REFERENCES

1. DOST Biliran, Provincial Science and Technology Center

2. Citronella, assamagribusiness.nic.NEDFi/map7.pdf